July Good Beer Month

The annual event known as #JulyGoodBeerMonth closes out the season with couple of “good beer” events that are worthy of your time. All month long, NYC bars have been scheduling beer-centric programming; along with NYC Restaurant Week, it’s a way to boost patronage during the dog days of summer where even getting out in this heat takes a seemingly seismic effort.

But July ain’t over until the last tankard-drinking pirate sings (or something like that), so be sure to get your brew on before the celebration ends and we’re just staring down the barrel of August in hopes of a beach day and September.

And apparently downtown is where you want to be! First up, tomorrow night (Thursday, July 28th) is one of the city’s best beer tasting events (my second favorite after NYC Beer Week’s Brewers Choice): Edible’s Good Beer. Somewhat shockingly, tickets are still available. I’ve noticed with my own slate of events that I publicized that many events that should be easy sells simply aren’t. My political viewpoint is that rents have gotten so damn high in this city that no one has disposable income to spend on events, but I can tell you flat out that at $65 ($70.60 with the ticketing fee), Good Beer is a great buy. Taking up in a new location (180 Maiden Street) and running three hours (6-9PM), Good Beer offers up 20 food purveyors (including Burke & Wills, for which I personally vouch having partaken of their fore-mentioned NYC Restaurant Week menu last night!) and two-dozen-plus beer, cider and spirits makers (including the soon-to-go-gypsy KelSo Beer Co.). As always, I recommend you get there on the early side, although in years past Edible has managed a well-run event with plenty of food and drink for all.

Then this weekend (on Saturday, July 30th), there’s the New York City Super Craft Beer Festival at Watermark Bar on Pier 15 (78 South Street at the Seaport). The weather looks good for Saturday (highs in the mid-80s with a chance of a passing storm in the afternoon), and being out on the pier is as good a place as any to gain some respite over the relenting heat of summer 2016.

Produced by Merchants Hospitality, the NYC Super Craft Beer Fest will feature more than 80 craft breweries showcasing their best and most noteworthy seasonal accomplishments in beer and ciders. Watermark Bar’s food menu will be available throughout the day to complement 100+ types of beer and ciders available. In addition, for those who prefer a cocktail, the Cocktail Guru himself will be on-hand making cocktails based on some of the craft beers available at the fest.

Of special note, this festival allows readmission for eleven (!!!) hours, meaning you can come and go… have a few beers, stroll along the water, maybe chill in some air-conditioned space, come back and have a few more. Because the festival is being run with drink tickets (as opposed to “all inclusive,” which sometimes – i.e. often – means favorite choices run out well before close of day), you should be able to drop in at any point between

Unlike most festivals broken into sessions, tickets will not limit guests to a four-hour window of time but will grant them access to the pier all day to come and go as they please, with each ticket including an amount of drink tickets (you may purchase additional drinks on the pier). Plus, the beers are actually being repped by the breweries themselves (one of the reasons I so enjoy Brewers Choice is because you can converse with the people who make the beers, as opposed to some volunteer pourer who may be clueless). You can get tickets starting at a mere $15 (for three 5-ounce samples) here.

For New Yorkers, it seems like every other day there’s some incredible beer release or cool gathering. The whole “too many beers, too little time” can seem overwhelming, but there are certain times of the year when being a part of the beer scene is like running a marathon.

July Good Beer Month is certainly one of those times. For 31 days every July, NYC celebrates as the Mayor’s office delivers the July Good Beer Month Proclamation (if you want the audio version, listen here at the 30 minute mark for Garrett Oliver’s oration… it’s brilliant!):

Office of the Mayor, City of New York – PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, July is Good Beer Month in New York City. And at barbecues and picnics and pubs and groggeries across the five Boroughs, our city’s residents and visitors are getting into the spirit and are beating the summer’s heat with cold beers. Even more refreshing is the fact that some of the best brews we have in the fridge and on tap are made right here in New York as our city’s craft beer scene continues to thrive.

WHEREAS, like any top quality product, good beer is the result of dedication of many people. Growing New York’s collegial, knowledgeable, independent beer community has required the passion and expertise of farmers, brewers, distributors, importers and devoted patrons alike. The community has also focused on keeping its industry sustainable and environmentally conscious. Brewers have formed partnerships with both city farms and local artisans, and foster the kind of conversations that keep their taverns and tasting rooms great places to share big ideas about what’s next in craft brewing.

The proclamation continues, acknowledging the Good Beer Seal bars (full disclosure, I blog for GBS). But what’s really cool is the Mayor’s support for five years and how craft beer has truly grown in the city. Here are a handful of the events you will want to check out this month. And feel free to tag me (@BKLYNbeerbitch) or the Good Beer Seal (@goodbeerseal) on Twitter for RTs; I want to know what you’re drinking and where you’re headed in July.

My favorites for the month include:

The Total Long Island City Immersion – Saturday, July 13th – Starting at noon, you can score a pass to get free beer samples from Brooklyn Brewery, among others, as you wind your way through LIC’s best pubs, patios and brunch spots.

The Parisian Ball on Governors Island – Saturday, July 13th – Starting at 4 p.m. and going until the wee hours of Bastille Day, you can be a kid again with vintage rides, music, libations and—one can muse—a central square for beheadings (no, not really; that was The Bitch’s attempt at a joke). This site offers slightly discounted tickets from the official website. It is 21+.

Mission Dolores Hosts Pioneers of American Craft – Wednesday, July 17th – MD does some counter programming from all the rare and unusual stuff going on tap across the city by putting the “Old Guard” beers of Anchor, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and Brooklyn Brewery. Sure, they’re your father’s craft beers, but I’m probably old enough to date your dad so it works for The Bitch!

Duvel/Ommegang Belgian Independence Day Celebration at Sunswick 35/35 – Thursday, July 18th – If you don’t make it out to Governors Island for Bastille Day, this is the next best Euro-independence event I could find to slate your need to act all superior to us ‘Mericans. Added bonus for those not able to make it to BCTC in August.

July Good Beer Month Presents NY State Food & Beer Expo – Saturday, July 27th – Come to Williamsburg’s East River Park for a great lineup of beer from KelSo, Shmaltz/Coney Island, Sixpoint and Brooklyn Brewery, among many others. Entry is at 90 Kent, and GA tickets will be available day of. VIP will be on sale the week of 7/15 at Good Beer Seal.

Edible’s Good Beer at 82 Mercer – Wednesday, July 31st – This is the premiere event that wraps up July Good Beer Month each year. Try to score a ticket now, because they typically sell out well in advance.